The recent moves by Cuba remind me of a sad fact. Millions of people all over this country love to support failure. Millions around the world sing the praises of failure.
Cuba is going to cut 500,000 people from the ranks of its government workers. About 85 percent of Cubans work for the government.
In other words, the Cubans are finally going to follow the path tread by the Chinese. Hoping for some of the prosperity the Chinese found when they finally allowed private markets. They are going to start tossing in the towel on communism. They are going to admit that the stupid system does not work.
Cuba expects these 500,000 will find work in its tiny private sector. To help them, Cuba will ease some of the prohibitive restrictions it imposes on small businesses.
The Jailer-in-Chief, Raul Castro, is allowing half a million Cubans out on parole. Isn’t it big of him? Imagine having the ego of the Castro boys. Imagine feeling entitled to dictate exactly how millions of people shall live. Imagine feeling there is nothing wrong with ruling without a whiff of a free election.
Imagine strutting through life in your camouflage military outfit. Whilst being a poster child for cowardice. Yes, cowardice. Any ruler who will not allow public criticism of his rule is a coward. A ruler who fears elections is a coward. A ruler who will not allow citizens to travel freely is a coward. A ruler who will not allow a citizen to open a business is a coward.
And imagine blinding yourself to the failure of communism. Communism has “worked” only at the end of a gun or a club. Russian communists butchered millions. Mao’s communists butchered millions. And yet, our campuses today are home to blind academics who feel communism has not been given more credit. Some of them feel communism would do a better job here than our current system.
Think how many Americans and Canadians have returned from Cuban trips with rave reviews. The people have no vote. “That’s okay.” The people are imprisoned on the island. They cannot hop on a plane to your city. “That’s all right.” If they demonstrate on the public square they may lose their job, their freedom. “Who cares?” They cannot open a little business. Government says no. “Hey, it’s not a big deal.”
